An Arab country has recently arrested Israeli Mossad agents, which were plotting to assassinate high-level Hamas political leaders abroad, including the head of the movement politburo Khaled Mashal, a top Hamas official was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

In an exclusive statement to IslamOnline.net, Mohammad Nazal, a member of the Hamas politburo, said officials in the said "Arab country", notified the movement leaders they must take utmost precautionary measures in their movements. Nazal declined, however, to specifically name the Arab country, but sources have speculated the "Arab country" is Syria.

"Israel is still adamant on its policy of assassinating Hamas leaders in and outside Palestine but the movement has been able to thwart such schemes by adopting strict security measures," Nazal confirmed.

Press reports suggest that Mashal, who moves among a number of Arab countries, was last seen in Qatar.

In 1997, Mossad agents tried to assassinate Khaled Mashal in Jordan, but their attempt failed. As a result, Israel had to free the movement's leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin from prison, in order to release the Mossad agents and to appease the late Jordanian King Hussein. (Albawaba.com)